9.22.2013

Masters of Sex

I am BEYOND excited for the new show, Masters of Sex, that debuts September 29th on Showtime. However, that day also marks our one-year anniversary (Woot!). I can't reasonably plan our day around a TV show, so I just expected to catch it On Demand at a later date until I came across the ENTIRE PREMIER EPISODEon Facebook. Geeked is an understatement of what I felt as I watched.

My excitement about this show stems from its subject matter. Masters of Sex is based on the biography of the same name written by Thomas Maier about William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The Masters and Johnson research team pioneered in the field of sexology; William Masters was a physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis and Virginia Johnson was hired as his research assistant. Together, they created a model for the human sexual response and worked together to further develop the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions from 1957 to 1994. A lot of knowledge we take for granted (i.e. that women are multiorgasmic, sometimes fake orgasms, etc.) was shared by this pair. The research they produced also debunked the 1758 assertion that masturbation causes blindness, the 19th century thought that sex for pleasure would ruin the body, and Freud's belief that clitorally induced pleasure probably revealed unresolved psychological problems.

Additionally, I have benefited in many ways by their work. The first book I ever read about sexology was written by Masters and Johnson. Also, my sex therapy supervisor, Linda Weiner, LCSW, worked at the Masters and Johnson Institute (so I can say I'm trained by Masters and Johnson by proxy. ...kinda. No, not really. Anyway...)

The contributions of Masters and Johnson are significant in that they worked to bring science into the bedroom. ... or brought sex into the laboratory. Either way, they revolutionized the way we think about and study sex and sexuality and I am super excited about this show!

Who is De-Andrea?

I'm licensed in the State of Missouri as a Clinical Social Worker, currently in the credentialing process to be certified as a Sex Therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. I'd also describe myself as a worshipper, sister, friend, teacher, student, daughter, motivator, and catalyst for change. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact me at AskASexTherapist@gmail.com or 314-877-8510.